Flexibility vs Pliability

Could you been thinking that you are lacking flexibility, but have been lacking pliability all along? Well, what is the difference?

In short, Flexibility to Speed is Pliability to Acceleration. The former measures how flexible you are at any given time, the later measures how fast you become flexible.

Can two people have the same flexibility, but different pliability?

You betcha! If two people can't do a split when cold, but can do a split when warm, they both have the same flexibility. (Assuming they start at the same number of degrees and end at the same number -180°)

However, if takes 5 minutes and the other 10 minutes to get that full split, the faster person is more pliable.

There are many advantages to pliability. The video below lists some of them, as well as summarizes the concept. Just keep in mind all other factors being equal, the more pliable athlete always has an advantage!